East Grand Rapids, Michigan — Seven candidates are vying for three- or four-year seats on the East Grand Rapids Board of Education in the November general election.
Two incumbents and five newcomers are seeking three spots in the Nov. 8 poll. Candidates include current School Board Principal Mike Reed, Board of Trustees Janice Yates, Peter Bisbee, Karen McKiol, Ratti Waldron, Benjamin Masterson, Steve Millman, and Matthew Richenthal. increase.
Bisbee He is a non-profit executive and has two children at school in East Grand Rapids. He and his family have been living in East Grand Rapids since 2019.
Makiollatti Waldron I am a private home health care practitioner and an alumnus of East Grand Rapids Public Schools. She is also a district partner.
Masterson I did not respond to requests to complete the Voter Guide Questionnaire.
Millman He is the father of four and the president of a commercial real estate company. He is currently a member of Union Bank’s Board of Directors and his EGR Hockey Board.
leadis the current school board president, father of three, and attorney/insurance board member.
RichenthalTrustee of the East Grand Rapids Community Foundation has two children in elementary school in the school district. He is the co-founder of a media company and holds a master’s degree in journalism.
YeatsThe school board secretary is a retired teacher and self-employed legal consultant. She is her mother and she has been a teacher for 25 years. She also holds a master’s degree in education from Grand She Valley State University.
MLive/The Grand Rapids Press partnered with the bipartisan League of Women Voters of Michigan to provide readers with candidate information. Each candidate was asked to outline their stance on various public policy issues listed below.
All responses in the Voter Guide are submitted directly by the candidates and are not edited by the League of Women Voters. Except for the necessary cuts if the answer exceeds the character limit. Spelling and grammar have not been corrected. The publication of candidate statements and opinions is for the benefit of the public service only and should not be considered endorsement. The League does not endorse or oppose any candidate or political party.
Information about other state, county, and local primaries can be found at Vote411.org.
See how 5 of the 7 candidates responded to 3 questions.
Why are you running for public office?
Bisbee:
“The biggest challenge for our school boards is managing relationships between administrators, teachers, parents and especially government regulators and special interest groups.
Public schools are under tremendous pressure to comply with controversial guidance from both state and federal regulators. Our government agencies have been politicized on most levels. Therefore, there is a controversy in the field of education.
Beyond government pressure, there is also pressure from special interest groups, particularly industry groups, social welfare organizations and commercial enterprises in the education sector. Often these groups do not represent the beliefs of the communities they influence.
This puts administrators and teachers in a difficult position, often caught between conflicting interests. Our elected school boards are perfectly positioned to manage these relationships and their conflicts in a transparent manner.
Machiorlatti-Waldron:
“Because of both my history here, both as a student and as a parent, I felt called to run. The choice to run for school board is not something I take lightly. I represent the voices of parents and children in my district, listening first to their needs, maintaining the excellence we have come to expect and why they chose to live in this area. My goal is to be transparent, get mtgs livestreaming and continue to support teachers to give our children the best possible education We make sure teachers have the tools they need.”
Millman:
“I aim to bring balance to the Board. I will provide a reasonable perspective on the current situation we face as a community. Knowledge is very valuable in high school expansion/renovation.My motivation is purely to give back to the community that has given me and my family so much.I have no political ambitions , I don’t believe there is room on the Board for candidates to do so.This should not be a political competition or springboard for candidates to use.I am currently and previously serving as a Director. I understand the responsibility and commitment I make to you and our community. Most of all, I am doing this for our children.”
Lead:
“I have lived in EGR for 18 years and am so grateful for what the community and school have given to my family. Having served for seven years, I have a deep understanding of school finances and the inner workings of school districts, which has made me qualified for the Board of Education.These qualifications, combined with my leadership background, , the community elected me, and given my experience in the last four years, and my experience as chairman of the board the past two years, I know I have a lot to give back to the teachers, staff, and community of the East. We seek opportunities to build on the efforts we have made to make a positive impact on the education of all students.”
Lischental:
“I have two young daughters and love East Grand Rapids. We want to ensure that access to quality education is accessible. We want to have mental health counselors and resources that support the traditions of educational excellence in our region while also encouraging all students to be the best version of themselves. thinking about.”
Yeats:
“I was a lifelong educator. After I retired, I wanted to continue to be involved in the education of my children. I think this unique perspective has made a difference.”
What is the biggest challenge facing your desired office? How do you address it?
Bisbee:
“The biggest challenge for our school boards is managing relationships between administrators, teachers, parents and especially government regulators and special interest groups.
Public schools are under tremendous pressure to comply with controversial guidance from both state and federal regulators. Our government agencies have been politicized on most levels. Therefore, there is a controversy in the field of education.
Beyond government pressure, there is also pressure from special interest groups, particularly industry groups, social welfare organizations and commercial enterprises in the education sector. Often these groups do not represent the beliefs of the communities they influence.
This puts administrators and teachers in a difficult position, often caught between conflicting interests. Our elected school boards are perfectly positioned to manage these relationships and their conflicts in a transparent manner.
Machiorlatti-Waldron:
“I think the challenges we face are different each year, but the biggest challenge is educating our children and getting them back to the level of learning they had before lockdown in 2020. Budget is always a challenge, so We need to review, if possible try to have some sort of tutor in each school to help children who need extra coaching after school. I think you’ll agree to lose your ability to learn if you don’t, so we need to get our children reading before the third grade.”
Millman:
“The biggest challenge is to bring people together. Our community sincerely wants to do what is best for our children, but it is clouded by sources who do not really have our best interests in mind. I will be transparent and make sure the district does the same, I will communicate with the community to make sure your voice is heard.”
Lead:
“The impact of the pandemic on students and teachers will have to be addressed for years to come. We will continue to provide resources and programs that support the mental well-being of children. More attention is being paid to the educational needs of students in response to more than a decade of educational disruptions.Teachers also need our help.This profession will continue to respond to the pandemic and subsequent changes to teaching methods. We have been severely impacted by the attacks and we all need to work together to develop teachers, understand their importance to our community, and continue to embrace their mission.”
Lischental:
“I am concerned about teacher turnover and burnout. Districts in surrounding areas are facing shortages due to budgetary issues and the excessive burden placed on teachers by various parents in the area. It requires collaboration between parents and educators to give children the best chance to grow and succeed, but ultimately these educators are the ones who teach most effectively within the classroom. They’ve dedicated their professional lives to knowing how to do it, and they should be given the freedom to do so.”
Yeats:
“By giving our children a good education, we are not only helping them emerge from the pandemic, but we are also providing them with the emotional support they need to get back to normal.”
What strategies will you use to serve and hold the public accountable in the lead-up to the next election?
Bisbee:
“We had regular office hours to get information from parents and members of the community. In addition, we met regularly with school administrators and teachers to solicit feedback from student groups.”
Machiorlatti-Waldron:
“The phone numbers and addresses of school board members are publicly available. I have no problem receiving calls, emails and messages within my Facebook page. I am part of the community and welcome interaction. If time permits, I would like to have a casual give and take at a local coffee shop.”
Millman:
“I will communicate openly with anyone and everyone I have concerns, questions, or comments. Please call 616-510-5545 anytime.”
Lead:
“I will continue to communicate with many students and parents over the past three years by phone and email. We are a relatively small community, feel free to drop us any questions or concerns, and seeing the power of these conversations makes me turn to the set.
Lischental:
“I urge all school board meetings to be live-streamed and recorded. Telephone, Zoom, in-person, etc., readily available for any type of conversation requested by interested parties or interested residents.” will do so.”
Yeats:
“I am in constant contact with the public through email, school board meetings, social media and phone calls.”
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